Do I need to relight the pilot after my propane tank runs empty or the gas is shut off for service, and is there air in the line to work through?
Yes to both in Clyde, and the town's older fireplaces mean most relights are done by hand. These 1960s-through-'80s ranch homes carry dated standing-pilot units — so when the gas is shut off or a propane tank empties, you relight through the printed sequence, and there's air in the line to purge before the pilot will hold.
Dated Ranch Fireplaces, Standing Pilots
Clyde's housing runs heavily to 1960s-through-'80s ranch-style builds with fireplaces that are ready for insert upgrades — and most of those original units use a standing millivolt pilot. After an interruption you relight one by hand: follow the unit's OFF-PILOT-ON steps, hold the knob down through each attempt, and let the pilot sputter and finally catch as the trapped air works out. It's normal for the first several tries to fail while the line clears; that's the air, not a fault.
River Humidity Corrodes the Small Parts
Clyde shares the Pigeon valley's cold-air drainage and river humidity with Canton and Waynesville, and that damp rusts dampers and degrades flue liners — and corrodes pilot assemblies and thermocouples over the years. So on these older units, a pilot that won't hold after a fair number of tries is often a corroded thermocouple rather than lingering air. Past a dozen attempts, stop forcing gas into the firebox and have it checked.
An Upgrade Worth Considering
If you're relighting a tired old firebox every season, it may be the moment to look at a sealed insert — real, efficient heat instead of a drafty box. For any propane place that ran empty, your supplier's leak and pressure test comes before relighting. We're a licensed gas contractor 25 minutes west, pulling the permit with Haywood County. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Clyde
We install and service fireplaces throughout Clyde and the rest of Haywood County — just 25 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- How do I light the pilot light on my gas fireplace?
- How long do I hold the pilot knob down when lighting it, and why won't it stay lit if I let go too soon?
- How long should I wait before trying again if the pilot doesn't catch on the first try?
- Is it safe to relight the pilot myself, or should a professional do it?
- How do I turn the pilot light off completely?